A man in his 50s who was prosecuted for graffiti at the office of former Democratic Party lawmaker Park Yong-jin was sentenced to a fine.
On the 30th, Judge Park Min of the Criminal Division 14 at the Seoul Northern District Court sentenced Song Mo (54), who was indicted for joint property damage under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes, to a fine of 3 million won.
The court stated, "The defendant is not free from responsibility for damaging property by visiting the office and scribbling on photos and the entrance door simply because the victim holds different political views," adding, "This act is condemnable as it goes against political freedom and pluralistic democracy." However, the court took into account that former lawmaker Park submitted several petitions for non-prosecution and that Song has no prior criminal record beyond fines.
Lee Mo and Oh Mo, who were indicted along with Song, were sentenced to a fine of 3 million won with a one-year suspended sentence. Kim Mo, who blocked the police during the graffiti incident, was sentenced to a fine of 1 million won with a one-year suspended sentence.
Earlier, they were accused of writing defamatory phrases with a permanent marker on photos and signboards placed at the entrance of former lawmaker Park’s office in Mia-dong, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, in October last year. It was investigated that they committed the act after holding a rally condemning former lawmaker Park, who is considered a moderate faction member, as hardline supporters of Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung.
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